Thursday, April 15, 2021

Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

CPI Physical Training - Course #180521 (Creston Office)

April 23, 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. or 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. Two sessions are offered - register for only one session.
NOTE: Materials Fee $50

Fierce Conversations I - Course #160693 (Avoca Office)

May 13, May 21, May 26, June 8, June 15 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Click Here to Register
NOTE: Materials Fee $130

Social-Emotional Learning Supports Symposium (Riverside High School)

August 2-3, 2021 9 am - 3 pm
The 2021 Social Emotional Learning Supports Symposium will provide a variety of climate, culture, social-emotional, and behavioral strategies for teachers, administrators, parents, counselors, and community service providers to use with children birth-21. Research shows social-emotional learning and well-being increases academic achievement at all levels of instruction, and are just as critical for adults as they are students.

This 2-day event will feature Keynote Speakers: 1) Dr. Marc Brackett, author of Permission to Feel, and 2) Dr. Jen Ulie-Wells, Please Pass the Love. Watch for updates on breakout sessions and the full agenda for further details. You won't want to miss this chance to reboot and recharge for the upcoming school year!

$50 fee includes lunch on both days.

Self-Care, Sharing & Support for Families Sessions

Join us for an opportunity to learn more about self-care, engage with other families, and gain support in our Self-Care, Sharing & Support for Families sessions! Attend any or all sessions. 

Summer Course Offerings from Drake University's School of Education

Register now for one or more of Drake University - School of Education's summer online offerings. Online courses are relevant, high-quality learning opportunities specific to PreK-12 teachers, counselors, athletic coaches, and administrators. Courses apply towards license renewal, salary advancement, or elective credit in graduate degree programs. Refer to your state or local guidelines. Click on any of the below text links for more information.

New and Featured Online Courses


Courses Developed by CEPD and Our Partners

Online Courses Developed by CEPD
Drake University Continuing Education and Professional Development designs online courses for
PreK-12 teachers, counselors, athletic coaches, and administrators seeking graduate credit for license renewal, salary advancement, or elective credit. Our courses are practical and award-winning.

Online Courses Developed by PLS 3rd Learning
Learn researched-based strategies to apply to your classroom immediately. Discover how to motivate and engage learners to improve student achievement. Elevate your professional expertise and become a master instructor by enrolling in these online classes.

Online School Mental Health Courses Developed by Please Pass the Love
A number of our school mental health (SMH) online courses were developed by PLEASE PASS THE LOVE. PLEASE PASS THE LOVE is committed to increasing SMH supports to improve the quality of life and educational opportunities for children, families, and educators. These unique courses are self-paced, and students may take these courses for graduate credit and Iowa License Renewal Credit. We also offer an audit option. Registration is rolling. Thus, register at any time throughout the year.

Visit Drake University - School of Education's website for more information regarding all offerings: www.drake.edu/cepd

2021 Iowa ALN Virtual Student Expo

 

You’re invited to the 2021 Iowa Authentic Learning Network Virtual Student Expo!

Are you looking for an engaging event to rejuvenate your learners? Curious about authentic learning but haven’t had a chance to dive in? Join us, April 27th, 2021 for a one-of-a-kind FREE virtual event designed to promote student projects with area business partnerships. This event is brought to you by students for students as a collaborative AEA partnership.
  • Looking for ways to engage students? Don’t wait...Register now!
  • New to the idea of embedding partnership projects? This event is for you!
  • Have established partnerships already? Learn more and showcase your students!
  • Are you a business or organization looking to engage with area youth? Experience first hand the kinds of projects already in progress.  
Register via this link.

uPAR Available to All Iowa Schools

Don Johnston, Iowa’s AEAs, and the Department of Education are pleased to announce that we are providing access to uPAR, Universal Protocol for Accommodations in Reading, at no cost to schools until June 30, 2021. 

2021-2022 SYBAC Applications Accepted Until May 14th

The Statewide Youth Broadband Advisory Council (SYBAC) is a unique opportunity for motivated high school students to research and discuss broadband and Internet topics, learn about Iowa technology companies, and discover technology careers. Students entering 10th - 12th grades may apply. Monthly meetings will be held by video conference. SYBAC will run from September 2021 through April 2022. Applications are being accepted until May 14, 2021.

Contact Lori Larsen at lori.larsen@iowa.gov for questions about the council.

Thursday, April 1, 2021

FastBridge Registration for 2021-2022

This year Iowa’s AEAs again will be subsidizing the costs for schools to upgrade their DE-provided FAST subscriptions that includes the expanded assessment suite in math and behavior for K-6, and literacy, math, and behavior for grades 7 & 8. Participation is available both to schools that purchased the expanded assessment suite in previous years and those that want to use it for the first time in 2021-22.

Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

Substitute Authorization - Course #154170 (Virtual)

April 12, April 13, April 14, April 15, April 16, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Click Here to Register
A substitute authorization allows an individual to substitute in grades PK-12 for no more than 5 consecutive days and no more than 10 days in a 30-day period in one job assignment for a regularly assigned teacher who is absent, except in the driver’s education classroom.

CPI Physical Training - Course #180521 (Halverson Center)

April 9, Three sessions are offered - register for only one session. 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. or 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
Click Here to Register
NOTE: Materials Fee $50

CPI Physical Training - Course #180521 (Creston Office)

April 23, Two sessions are offered - register for only one session.8 a.m. - 11 a.m. or 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.
NOTE: Materials Fee $50

Social-Emotional Learning Supports Symposium - Course #201221 (Riverside High School)

August 2-3, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
The 2021 Social Emotional Learning Supports Symposium will provide a variety of climate, culture, social-emotional, and behavioral strategies for teachers, administrators, parents, counselors, and community service providers to use with children birth-21. Research shows social-emotional learning and well-being increase academic achievement at all levels of instruction, and are just as critical for adults as they are students.

This 2-day event will feature Keynote Speakers: 1) Dr. Marc Brackett, author of "Permission to Feel and 2) Dr. Jen Uhlie-Wells, Please Pass the Love. Watch for updates on breakout sessions and the full agenda for further details. You won't want to miss this chance to reboot and recharge for the upcoming school year!

NOTE: $50 fee includes lunch on both days.

Principal Impact: Theory to Practice (Hybrid)

A school administrator plays a critical role in the overall success of a school. While the importance
of teachers should never be understated, it is the school leader who ultimately sets and sustains the
structures for teaching and learning within the building. Green Hills AEA, in partnership with Insight Education, will offer a learning experience that is a facilitated collaboration around professional problems of instructional practice. 

Consortium for Accelerating Learning - Course #201281 (Hybrid)

Green Hills AEA and The New Teacher Project (TNTP) have developed a Consortium for Accelerating Learning based on the tenets of The Opportunity Myth. The Consortium for Accelerating Learning takes a new approach to ensuring that all students have access to grade-level content rather than receiving continual remediation. Join us for kickoff on August 11th to engage in thinking about 2 key questions: How do we ensure that students’ experience will lead to accelerated learning for all? What are our goals for accelerating student learning for all students?

Throughout the initiative, our AEA Consultants will work with school teams during the 21-22 school year to assist in using tools and data to develop a strong universal tier, or core instruction strategies, for teachers and students. Please refer to this flyer for all the details.

We welcome any questions you may have and invite you to join us for an informational webinar on April 14th from 3:00-4:00 pm. Please indicate your interest in attending the webinar via this SHORT form.

Watch for even more! Green Hills will also offer micro-credentialing opportunities for educators in your schools that will help your entire staff acquire more tools and resources to accelerate learning.

April is Autism Awareness Month

April is autism awareness month! Check out THIS DOCUMENT by the Green Hills AEA autism team sharing 10 ways to increase awareness. Help them rename their blog and win a prize!

Self Care, Sharing, and Support for Families

 Join us for an opportunity to learn more about self-care, engage with other families, and gain support in our Self-Care, Sharing & Support for Families sessions! Attend any or all sessions. See dates, learn more, and register HERE!

20201 Iowa Authentic Learning Network Virtual Student Expo

You’re invited to the 2021 Iowa Authentic Learning Network Virtual Student Expo!

Are you looking for an engaging event to rejuvenate your learners? Curious about authentic learning but haven’t had a chance to dive in? Join us, April 27th, 2021 for a one-of-a-kind FREE virtual event designed to promote student projects with area business partnerships. This event is brought to you by students for students as a collaborative AEA partnership.
  • Looking for ways to engage students? Don’t wait...Register now!
  • New to the idea of embedding partnership projects? This event is for you!
  • Have established partnerships already? Learn more and showcase your students!
  • Are you a business or organization looking to engage with area youth? Experience first hand the kinds of projects already in progress.  
Register via this link.


Family Educator Partnership Resource

The Family and Educator Partnership would like to share the resource: Special Education: Child Find Process. Developed for parents, it describes the process used to determine if a child needs special education services and supports. Each section provides parents questions they may wish to ask, such as:
  • What are Child Find activities?
  • What is my part in this process?
  • What will this look like?
  • How long does this process take?
  • What interventions will be used?
  • How will we know if the intervention works?
  • What happens if my child is found eligible?
  • What happens if my child is not found eligible?

By providing the right questions to ask, families become more actively engaged and collaborative throughout this process. You will find this easy to read and very helpful to both families and staff. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Liddell

Mental Health Resources Print Order

Iowa’s AEA Well-being Team has created bookmarks and calming coloring books for middle school-aged children. This effort is part of a campaign to promote a new well-being and mental health website for Iowans created by the AEAs at www.IowaAEAMentalHealth.org. If you would like to order some for your school or classroom, CLICK HERE.

IMPORTANT ORDER INFORMATION:
  • Before adding these items to your cart, you must log in using the same username and password you use to login to the AEA Learning System (system for Mandatory Reporter and Bloodborne Pathogens training).
  • Enter the school name in the PO field.
  • Self-Care Coloring & Activity Book

The website came from a request by the state legislature to help educators, parents, and students navigate resources related to mental health and well-being in Iowa. In addition to AEA mental health contacts for the schools, the site provides contacts for the home setting from Iowa’s Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS).

The website features vetted sources to educate visitors about addiction and substance abuse; anxiety and stress disorders; attention deficit disorder; depression; eating disorders; and self-harm.

Iowa High School Tech Summit


The Iowa High School Tech Summit Presented by Principal will be broadcast live on Tuesday, April 20, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. The summit is free and open to all Iowa high school students and educators. The live, virtual event will feature two panels and live breakout sessions for attendees to connect and chat with Iowa tech companies and academic institutions regarding available opportunities to get involved.

If you know an Iowa high school student interested in learning more about a tech career, encourage them to attend.

Special thanks to the presenting sponsor, Principal Financial Group, experiential event partner, Bow & Arrow Productions, as well as Workiva, Facebook, Google, SHAZAM, and Carrier Access, for supporting the immersion of high school students in the Iowa tech industry through this event.



Free Virtual Resources From The Durham Museum

The Durham Museum in Omaha is offering several opportunities for students to engage in different types of learning which align with Iowa social studies standards. All of the opportunities above are available at no cost. More information can be found using each link.
  • Museum Live! This weekly, broadcast-style show is done completely live and includes an engaging variety of historic and cultural segments at The Durham, plus guest speakers from the Smithsonian and other museums across the country! Of course, the biggest star is Professor Durham, the museum’s custom-built puppet, who does segments like Today in History and History Mystery. The show takes place Mondays at 10AM CST but you can access episodes here if you cannot watch live!
  • Virtual Scholars in Residence program: This program typically takes place in the form of school assemblies, but has gone virtual!
  • 1:1 Virtual Field Trips: The Durham connects directly with your class, at a date and time of your choosing, presenting a topic of your choosing. Topics include one-room schoolhouses, indigenous tribes of the plains, pioneers, historic train travel, and more.